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Bucketlist Bri

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Riding the Banff Gondola: Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated: November 23, 2022 · Alberta, Canada

The Banff Gondola is one of the top things to do in Banff during the summer. Unparalleled mountain views, combined with fun activities the whole family can enjoy, make this gondola ride one of the best in Banff National Park.

In this post, I’ll share with you everything you need to know about the Banff Gondola Experience. Is it worth it? How much does it cost? When should you go? I answer all your questions and more down below.

Table of Contents show
The Ultimate Guide: Banff Gondola
Gondolas in Banff — Which is Better?
The Banff Gondola — Is It Worth the Ticket Cost?
How to Get to the Banff Gondola From Town
How Long Does it Take to Ride the Banff Gondola?
What to See & Do at the Top of the Banff Gondola
Watch the “Spirit of Banff” Short Film
Enjoy the interpretive Center
Hike the Boardwalk to the Cosmic Ray Station on Sanson’s Peak
Enjoy Beer & Live Music on the Outdoor Patio
Have Dinner with a Million Dollar View

The Ultimate Guide: Banff Gondola

Panoramic view of mountains and river surrounding Banff townsite
The view from atop the Banff Gondola

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Gondolas in Banff — Which is Better?

There are actually a few gondolas that run during summer in Banff, not just the “Banff Gondola” — a bit confusing, right? Which one you visit is up to you and your budget, but they each will provide panoramic, incredible views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains.

Banff Gondola — The one this post is about! The Banff Gondola takes you up to the top of Sulphur Mountain. It’s located near the Banff Upper Hot Springs as well, so many people do both activities in one go.

Mount Norquay Chairlift — Mt Norquay is a ski resort. In the summer, you can ride in their 10-minute open-air chairlift up into the sky. At the top, you can hike, dine, or attempt to cross the Via Ferrata! Their ski resort is 100% green-energy powered.

Banff Sunshine Summer Gondola — Banff’s longest and biggest gondola, accommodating up to eight family members. The ride will take you up to Sunshine Village Ski Resort.

Lake Louise Summer Gondola — The fourth and final gondola in Banff National Park is located at the Lake Louise Ski Resort, about 45 minutes away from Banff townsite. In the summer, you can get unparalleled views of Lake Louise from the sky while optimizing your chances to observe grizzly bears in the wild.

The Banff Gondola — Is It Worth the Ticket Cost?

Sunset atop Sulphur Mountain with forest and mountains and the Banff Gondola Summit Station
View of the Summit Station

A ride up the famous Banff Gondola in the summer will cost you between $50–$60 CAD. The rates are dynamic, meaning they can vary depending on whether it’s a weekday, weekend, availability, etc.

You’ll need to reserve your ticket in advance to ensure you have your desired loading (departure) time. If you arrive and get tickets at the window, you may be queuing for a while.

Click here or on the below image to get your tickets on GetYourGuide.

If you have the budget to do only one gondola in Banff National Park, I would recommend either the Banff Gondola or the Mt Norquay Chairlift.

🎟 Before 10am, kids get free admission when accompanied by at least one paying adult!

How to Get to the Banff Gondola From Town

Aerial view of the Bow River, Tunnel Mountain, and Fairmont Banff Springs hotel (as seen from the Banff Gondola ride)
Tunnel Mountain, Bow River, and the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

The convenience of the Banff Gondola is that it lies just five minutes from downtown Banff.

The easiest and most sustainable way to get there is to take the Roam Transit shuttle (Route 1). Since there’s limited parking at the top, it’s safer to just leave your car at the free parking lot by the Banff Train Station and take the Roam shuttles to get around (for cheap!).

You can also drive, but you run the risk of not finding parking (since both the Gondola and the Upper Hot Springs are popular attractions).

Want another way to get to the Banff Gondola? 🥾
You can skip the Gondola ride but still reach the top of Sulphur Mountain with a moderate, 10km, 2.5+ hour hike up a series of switchbacks. The gondola trolleys actually ride right over the trail to get up the mountain. It’s not the most scenic hiking trail in Banff, so if you only have time to get in one hike during your trip, I’d choose something like the Big Beehive hike in Lake Louise.

How Long Does it Take to Ride the Banff Gondola?

Sunset atop Banff Gondola with sunset glow on forest trees and snow-capped mountain peaks
Sunset glow atop the Banff Gondola

The Banff Gondola ride lasts about 7-8 minutes from bottom to top and vice versa. The views of Banff, Tunnel Mountain, the Bow River, and the peaks around the town on the way up are phenomenal, with windows looking out to your left (if your back is facing the mountain slope).

You should be in line at least 10-15 minutes before your “loading” time indicated on your ticket. If you get to the station in advance, there’s a gift shop and a modern Starbucks inside to keep you busy (and satiated!)

Can you hike up Sulphur Mountain and take the Banff Gondola down? Yes, but you must reserve your ticket/departure time in advance. You can’t just show up at the top and purchase a one-way ticket; they will not allow it.

What to See & Do at the Top of the Banff Gondola

Three silhouettes of people on Banff Gondola Boardwalk overlooking snow-capped mountains at sunset
The Banff Gondola boardwalk to Sanson’s Peak

Watch the “Spirit of Banff” Short Film

One of the highlights of the Banff Gondola Experience, in my opinion, is the short film, The Spirit of Banff, which plays every couple of minutes inside the small and cozy multi-sensory theater.

The quick 2-minute film will take you on an emotional journey as you watch Banff transform over the years in front of your eyes. It’s a very sweet story, with a very powerful message:

We must do everything we can to protect this special, fragile, and wild place for generations to come.

Don’t miss it!

Enjoy the interpretive Center

The Interpretive Center is a fun little attraction inside the modern Summit Station. There are plaques to read, fun facts, and immersive, self-guided activities to do with your family.

Everyone wants to hurry out onto the 360-degree view platform outside but in doing so they miss out on the opportunity to learn about Banff a little deeper.

Snow-capped mountains and forest with people walking on Banff Gondola boardwalk below
Banff Gondola Boardwalk

Hike the Boardwalk to the Cosmic Ray Station on Sanson’s Peak

The boardwalk hike is a must-do when atop the Banff Gondola. It’s an easy, 30-minute hike on an elevated boardwalk that will take you to the Cosmic Ray Station atop Sanson’s Peak.

Along the way, enjoy immaculate views of the Rocky Mountains!

Tip: Go for sunset and enjoy that golden glow as it shines through those snow-capped peaks! ☀️

Cosmic Ray Weather Station atop Sanson's Peak on Sulphur Mountain (Banff Gondola Experience)
Sulphur Mountain Weather Station

Enjoy Beer & Live Music on the Outdoor Patio

The Peak Patio is an outdoor patio offering fresh air paired with mountain views and a refreshing beer. While they do serve food, it is more light bites and snacks. I’d go for the live music and brews, then maybe head inside for dinner.

Have Dinner with a Million Dollar View

The Sky Bistro inside the Summit Station is one of the best places to enjoy dinner with a million-dollar mountain view in Banff National Park. Their menu features unique Canadian dishes made with regionally-sourced vegetables, meats, and ingredients. If Sky Bistro is full, you can also enjoy a marketplace, buffet-style meal inside at their Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen.

360-degree Sky Deck viewing platform atop Banff Gondola Summit Station
Banff Gondola Sky Deck

Ready to ride? 🚠
Click here to purchase your Banff Gondola tickets

Image of Banff Gondola Summit Station with text overlay "Complete Review Banff Gondola Ride" in yellow and green
Gallery images of Banff Gondola with text overlay

By: Bri · In: Alberta, Canada

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I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

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Add this place to your Taiwan bucket list — ASAP Add this place to your Taiwan bucket list — ASAP!

📍 Taroko Gorge, Taroko National Park 

This place felt like the “Misty Mountains” (of Taiwan)🧙‍♂️ ⛰️ 🥾 — there are wispy waterfalls, towering peaks, marble canyons, hiking trails, dark tunnels, aboriginal food/culture, and just look at that crystal clear river water! 😍

My full blog guide + itinerary for this underrated destination and national park (one of nine in Taiwan!) is now LIVE! 

Head to my blog @bucketlistbri .com and search for Taroko for all the juicy details on how to visit 🌿

P.S. More Taiwan + Japan blog guides to follow — send me your questions and don’t forget to bookmark this for later ✨ 🤗

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As a full-time travel blogger and blogging coach, As a full-time travel blogger and blogging coach, I am always looking for ways to boost my passive income. I mean, earning $100+ per day passively is a pretty sweet deal, right?! 

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Folks are always surprised when I tell them I’ve Folks are always surprised when I tell them I’ve been living abroad and traveling for the last 8+ years! 

Fun and rewarding travel doesn’t have to be expensive. 

Here’s how you can make mindful nomadic travel more affordable ⬇️ 

1. For finding free house/petsitting opportunities in cool places, I use @trustedhousesitters . There is a yearly membership to join but it’s worth it because you can sit in so many places around the world for ✨ FREEEEE ✨ and we’d never get to stay in cool (erm... expensive) places as we have — our previous sits have been in Vancouver, British Columbia / Bend, Oregon / Asheville, North Carolina! The other day I found one in Koh Samui, Thailand for 1.5 months and I was honestly this 🤏 close to applying on a whim. 

2. Local, slow travel (traveling in one place for longer periods of time 6 months > 6 days) is how we’ve afforded to live abroad for years on end. We live well below our means and try to match the local rent as best we can. We often find local apartments for rent on destination FB groups. I have tons of slow travel / digital nomad guides on my blog if you need extra help for getting started! ✨ 

3. Work/cultural exchanges and (responsible) volunteer programs can be a great way to integrate into a host destination and community mindfully while on a budget. Check out programs like @workawayinfo or @worldpackers 

Let me know if you’d like more tips like these or if you have any questions! 🫶 

#digitalnomad #budgettravel #housesitting #petsitting #workexchange #nomadiccreators #mindfultravel #responsibletravel #slowtravel #workaway #worldpackers #trustedhousesitters
Our last road trip? 🥲 Is anyone keen to buy o Our last road trip? 🥲 

Is anyone keen to buy our vintage 1990 Dodge Ram Roadtrek with only 110k original miles?? 

Our van story ⬇️ ✨🚐

In 2019, we were living in Mexico when I (Bri) had the tug to buy a vintage van and road trip North America in it. We found the perfect one, drove it 4 days back to Tennessee to change the plates, and then geared up for our cross-Canada road trip. We drove over 10,000 miles in six months, from Nayarit, Mexico all the way to Newfoundland & Labrador then back across Canada to Vancouver, where we stored it for the winter. 
As you can imagine, our plans to pick up our road trip again in May 2020 weren’t possible. In fact, Canada didn’t open its borders for another TWO YEARS. During that time, our van sat parked outside in a little U-haul parking lot with just a tarp for protection (that ripped and had to be replaced). 
When we finally got back to it in May of 2022—to our surprise—our van started on the 5th try (3x Paul, then 2x me), and only had one flat tire. From there, we drove it across BC and Alberta, crossed the Rockies, and then journeyed on down around the Olympic Peninsula in WA and then explored Oregon for the first time. Since winter in the van (in the PNW) isn’t so pleasant, we had to store it again. So at the end of October 2022, we stored it and flew back to a new state in Mexico to wait out winter. In May 2023 (are you seeing a pattern here), we picked Van Rouge up again and dusted her off, again, and this time she started on the 2nd try. We started road-tripping around WA, then crossed over into Idaho, and then...? And then, nearly abruptly, we decided it was time to stop. 🛑 

For the first time since owning the van, we felt like we were moving forward but in no direction. Chasing a dream of our former selves. 

Letting go, or at least making that decision, made me want to hold on to our beasty Van Rouge even more so that I never forget that feeling of freedom or all those epic memories we made. 

But this sunset-soaked drive reminded me that, letting go, doesn’t mean I will. 

This van and I, we had something special. I found her, and she took me to places that helped find me.🥹

#vanlife #roadtrip #overlanding
Things to do in Taipei ⬇️ [save this to your Things to do in Taipei ⬇️ 

[save this to your Taiwan folder!]

· Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
· Taipei 101 Observatory for awesome city views (NT$ 420)
· Eat at Din Tai Fung! 🥟 
· Street food at NIGHT MARKETS! Shilin Night Market, Raohe Street Night Market*
>> * The one we went to and got a foot massage at hehe 🦶 
· Explore iconic temples: Longshan Temple, Baoan Temple
· Wander through historical streets like Dadaocheng and Dihua Street
· Ximending district for shopping/entertainment/food
· Head to the “Barcade” for a retro gaming-themed night out 💃 

We needed a few more days to hang out in Taipei, it’s SUCH a cool city!! Have you been?

#taiwantravel #exploretaiwan #exploretaipei #nomadtravel #taiwan
The last one lol 😳 — if I kept track well, my The last one lol 😳 — if I kept track well, my grand total for 10 days solo in Japan (Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo) including all transport, accommodation, food, tours, miscellaneous, came to:

… *Stephen Colbert calculator noises* …

✨ $2,158.36 ✨

Or about $215 / day 😬 

I was NOT on a budget, by the way! I pretty much did and ate whatever my heart desired, which was incredibly freeing and I’m so grateful to be able to have given this experience to myself. No regrets 💯 (especially on the Nintendo / Zelda splurge) 😂 

#japantravel #traveljapan #solotraveler #nintendotokyo #kyototravel #osakajapan #tokyotrip
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